National football league nfl commissioner roger goodell, tags: plans - cdn2.picryl.com national football league nfl commissioner roger goodell - cdn2.picryl.com
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has announced plans to expand the league's international reach in the upcoming regular season. Goodell identified Brazil and Spain as the leading contenders for inclusion.
The commissioner expressed confidence in the NFL's potential to become a global sport, with an official announcement anticipated within the next month or two.
During a forum in Las Vegas to promote the upcoming Super Bowl, Goodell emphasized the league's popularity abroad.
"We could've sold over our two games in Germany 4.5 million tickets. They sold out in minutes. And it's literally the same with the U.K.," he said on Tuesday.
"I think you're going to see a very global NFL, not necessarily with franchises, but maybe like have one playing games on a global basis. And I see that happening in the next five to 10 years."
Goodell believes that the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, which includes flag football, will further support the NFL's mission to extend the sport's reach beyond national borders.
In a previous interview with NBC in September, Goodell acknowledged the possibility of an NFL team being based overseas.
"I think it's possible," he said. "The debate we've always tried to work on is if you can do it competitively, and do it in a way where it's fair, not only for that team, but every team."
During an interview with Sky Sports, Goodell expanded on the potential for Europe to host multiple NFL teams. He explained that the league's experience with playing five games in Europe this season would provide valuable insights into the feasibility of teams staying for an extended period.
"We'll learn something from that that will help us determine: Can we play more games? Could a team actually play over here?" said Goodell.
International NFL games
The NFL's venture into international regular-season games dates back to October 2005, marked by a historic matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Termed "NFL Fútbol Americano," this game set the stage for the league's global expansion.
The International Series officially commenced in October 2007 with the clash between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants at Wembley Stadium in London. This match marked the first regular-season game played outside North America.
In the current season, the NFL continued its international outreach by hosting five regular-season games overseas, including three in London and two in Germany. The Jacksonville Jaguars started the 2023 NFL International Games on October 1 against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium, London.
Shifting the focus to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 8, the Buffalo Bills faced the Jaguars in a game that marked Jacksonville's first-ever experience of playing two regular-season games outside the United States.
On October 15, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hosted another matchup between the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens, bringing the curtain down on the 2023 NFL London Games.
As part of its four-year commitment to play regular-season games in Germany starting in 2022, the NFL also expanded its presence with two games in Frankfurt during the 2023 season. Super Bowl LVII champions Kansas City Chiefs launched the 2023 NFL Frankfurt Games on November 5, facing the Miami Dolphins at Frankfurt Stadium.
Continuing the international showcase, the New England Patriots took on the Indianapolis Colts on November 12 at Frankfurt Stadium, concluding the 2023 NFL International Games